With the championship picture looking more and more like a two-horse race between Penske teammates Will Power and Helio Castroneves, third-runner Ryan Hunter-Reay was looking to the Milwaukee Mile to get him back into the thick of things.
After all, this is a course he’s dominated the past two years — winning the race in 2012 and 2013.
Well, after Saturday’s qualifying the 33-year-old will be in tough to even crack the top five, starting 19th on the grid Sunday.
Making matters worse for the Andretti driver is that points leader Power captured pole position and Castroneves is starting eighth meaning it’ll likely take something that would see the pair knocked out of the race for Hunter-Reay to make any meaningful ground on them.
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Canadian James Hinchcliffe isn’t in much of a better position than his teammate, starting 13th, but given his current place in the overall championship picture (12th) this race probably won’t do much for his title aspirations.
Meanwhile, Juan Pablo Montoya, currently fifth in the drivers standings, took second in qualifying and with his driving expertise on ovals don’t be surprised if the top three in points after this race ends up being an all-Penske affair.
Track Info
The one-mile oval drives more like a road course because of the 9-degree banking in the turns, which produces exciting racing. Drivers can’t go flat out on the course, which creates overtaking opportunities in the turns as well as the straights.
The Mile opened in 1903 and little has changed to the configuration.
Past Winners
- 2013 – Ryan Hunter Reay
- 2012 – Ryan Hunter Reay
- 2011 – Dario Franchitti
- 2009 – Scott Dixon
- 2008 – Ryan Briscoe
